Wednesday, May 13, 2015

The Battle of the Birds

During my recent vacation stop at Gingko Petrified Forest Interpretative Center, I enjoyed watching a territory battle between a Common Raven and a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. The birds spent a good twenty minutes or so swooping around the cliffs, up and down, and over and around the Center. Oh, how I wished a pro photographer had been there! But I snapped what I could, and here are the results:

Combatant number one: Raven

Combatant number two: Hawk

Raven chases Hawk:

Hawk chases Raven:

I have no idea who is chasing who here:

Hawk gives up and flies away, perhaps to do battle another day.

I'm so glad I was there at precisely the right time to see this fabulous encounter.

Yup, the raven was very vocal and very persistent. And the hawk was a juvenile, and possibly bit off more than it could handle. They were very evenly matched in size, though, and it did go back and forth quite a lot.

Follow by Email

Subscribe To

About Me

I'm an author, artist, and avid birder.
I live in Seattle where it is much too gray.
My primary goal in life is to have fun. Embrace the fun. Avoid the unfun. And pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
mizmak@gmail.com

Illustrator of: In My Nature

Author of: Immortal Quest

Author of: Seattle Sleuth

A 1920s mystery

Original Art

If you are in Seattle and are interested in buying my original art, please stop in at Four Corners Art and Frame shop at 4305 University Way NE (98105) or contact the owner, Allison Joseph, at allisonjoseph@comcast.net and she can send photos of what's available.